In the News

As event coordinator for Foxboro Stadium, Brian O'Donovan attracted many big names. Now he presents an Irish radio show. Each week, Irish Times Abroad meets an Irish person working in an interesting job overseas. Brian O’Donovan is the second youngest of nine children, born in 1957 in Clonakilty,West Cork. O’Donovan studied at UCC in the 1970s but now lives in Boston, where he works as a broadcaster for WGBH, a public radio station. He presents a show that explores “traditional and contemporary music from around the Celtic world”.

Emily Rooney, who is celebrating her 20th year hosting Beat the Press on WGBH, says the biggest change she’s witnessed over that time period has been in the news-gathering business itself. In television, the network and local news shows have narrowed their focus and range. Locally, she says, the focus increasingly is on traffic, weather, and “two-bit crime coverage. Anchors, once known by their first names, are now barely known at all.”

For the second time, a team of six students from Amesbury High School qualified for WGBH’s “High School Quiz Show,” which will begin filming in January...The 16 schools selected received the highest scores on an oral quiz at the Super Sunday qualifying event held earlier this month at WGBH’s studios in Brighton. These schools will compete in the next phase of the competition when episodes are taped in January.

Gabrielle Emanuel, WGBH News reporter, joins Sue to take a closer and final look at the three statewide ballot questions in Massachusetts ahead of Election Day.

Weekend plans: binge-watch vintage episodes of The French Chef, and maybe embark on an epic cooking adventure, to pregame what would be Julia Child’s 106th birthday (it’s August 15). WGBH, which produced the groundbreaking culinary TV show in Boston, just added a dozen classic episodes and counting to its online streaming service. This is the first time WGBH has made full episodes of The French Chef available to an online audience. The show aired from 1963-73 and was the first cooking show on television.

A storyteller rehearses backstage for WGBH's live show “Stories from the Stage.” Premiering on World Channel in October 2017, the original series gathers multicultural storytellers to reflect America’s underreported diversity today. Producer Liz Cheng said, “We admire video storytelling. But when you hear a story without actually seeing the person, you don’t realize how different they are from you.” Many performers are first-time storytellers, with everyday appearances concealing extraordinary stories. Before they get on stage, Cheng will interview and coach them. She wants them to tell their stories from the heart, not just read a script.

Even though the Patriots are on a break until training camp, safety Devin McCourty remains busy with his role in the Player’s Coalition and pushing to combat social and racial inequality. Monday night, he was on WGBH’s “Greater Boston” with Jim Braude. Naturally, the anthem issue was discussed, along with the new league policy for players who don’t stand with President Trump maintaining the players are disrespecting the men and women of the military with their protests. Braude also asked about Tom Brady’s recent remarks to Oprah Winfrey with regard to players kneeling, and how the Patriot’s quarterback respected everyone’s right to protest, and thought the Patriots had healthy discussions on the subject.

The best and brightest of New England’s news industry, decked out in tuxedos and floor-length dresses, flocked to Boston on Saturday to celebrate the region’s 41st annual Emmy Awards. Several Massachusetts-based news organizations raked in the awards at the 2018 Boston/New England Emmy Awards gala, which was presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and held at the Marriott Boston Copley Place. … Executive editor and host Emily Rooney of WGBH’s “Beat the Press” took home an award for Best Interview/Discussion, along with producer Antonio Caban and reporter Adam Reilly.

For a recent edition of the WGBH community affairs program “Basic Black,” four educators from the Boston school system took seats in a semicircle facing the studio cameras. In the middle sat Callie Crossley, the familiar WGBH TV and radio personality who has hosted the long-running show for several years.

30 - Jonathan Abbott, President and CEO, WGBH. It’s hard to remember that just a few years ago, WGBH was mostly known for classical radio and Zoom. Since then, Abbott has reeled in Jim Braude, arguably the most influential media figure around, and built a studio in the Boston Public Library lobby—possibly the best integration of media into the city that Boston has ever seen.

Less than a week after creating a partnership to help public broadcasters pool equipment and services purchases, executives from CPB, WGBH and Public Media Co. presented their plans here Wednesday and Thursday to attendees at PBS TechCon and the Public Radio Engineering Conference.

The concert aired on WGBH, the local PBS station and preempted Lawrence Olivier in Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya.” A broadcaster, clearly unfamiliar with rhythm-and-blues, introduced it as a performance by “Negro singer Jimmy Brown and his group.”...

Stories from the Stage follows a different format. Liz Cheng, WGBH/World Channel general manager for television and co-executive producer of Stories from the Stage, calls it “a convening, as opposed to a competition.”...

If you’re not on with Eagan and Braude, you’re no one in this city. How WGBH’s dynamic radio duo became the only voices that matter.